Side loading lead anchor and methods of making and using thereof

Abstract

An implantable lead anchor includes a first anchor housing, a second anchor housing, an armature, a spindle, and a locking arrangement. The first and second anchor housing each includes at least one channel to hold a portion of a lead. The armature is coupled to the first and the second anchor housings and holds the first and second anchor housings in a spaced-apart arrangement. A spindle is rotatably disposed on the armature and between the first and second anchor housing. In addition, the spindle includes a third channel to receive and hold a portion of a lead. The locking arrangement is formed on the spindle and at least one of the first or second anchor housing. The locking arrangement maintains the spindle in a rotated position relative to the first and second anchor housing when the locking arrangement is activated.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An implantable lead anchor, comprising:
 a first anchor housing comprising at least one first lead receiving channel; 
 a second anchor housing comprising at least one second lead receiving channel; 
 an armature coupled to the first anchor housing and the second anchor housing and holding the first and second anchor housings in a spaced-apart arrangement; 
 a spindle configured and arranged to be rotatably disposed on the armature and between the first and second anchor housings, wherein the spindle comprises at least one third lead receiving channel configured and arranged to receive and hold a portion of a lead within the at least one third lead receiving channel; and 
 a locking arrangement formed on the spindle and at least one of the first anchor housing or second anchor housing, wherein the locking arrangement is configured and arranged to maintain the spindle in a rotated position relative to the first and second anchor housing when the locking arrangement is activated. 
 
     
     
       2. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first anchor housing comprises two first lead receiving channels, the second anchor housing comprises two second lead receiving channels, and the spindle comprises two third lead receiving channels. 
     
     
       3. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one locking arm extending from the first or second anchor housing, a corresponding annular recess in the spindle for receiving the at least one locking arm, and at least one radial opening extending from the annular recess and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the at least one locking arm to lock the at least one locking arm. 
     
     
       4. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one locking arm extending from the spindle, a corresponding annular recess in the first or second anchor housing for receiving the at least one locking arm, and at least one radial opening extending from the annular recess and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the at least one locking arm to lock the at least one locking arm. 
     
     
       5. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises opposing ratcheting surfaces formed on the spindle and on at least one of the first or second anchor housing. 
     
     
       6. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 5 , wherein each of the opposing ratcheting surfaces comprises a plurality of beveled teeth arranged around at least a portion of the ratcheting surface. 
     
     
       7. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first anchor housing defines at least one suture hole through the first anchor housing. 
     
     
       8. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 7 , wherein the second anchor housing defines at least one suture hole through the second anchor housing. 
     
     
       9. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the armature is longitudinally flexible so that the locking arrangement can be released from a locked state by grasping the first and second anchor housing and pulling the first and second anchor housings away from each other. 
     
     
       10. The implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the lead anchor is formed entirely of non-metallic materials. 
     
     
       11. A kit, comprising:
 the implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 ; and 
 at least one electrical stimulation lead, wherein the implantable lead anchor is configured and arranged to receive a portion of one of the at least one electrical stimulation lead in the at least one third lead receiving channel. 
 
     
     
       12. The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising a control module coupleable to the at least one electrical stimulation lead. 
     
     
       13. The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising a lead extension coupleable to the lead and to the control module. 
     
     
       14. A method of implanting an electrical stimulation lead, the method comprising:
 side loading a portion of a first electrical stimulation lead into a one of the at least one third lead receiving channel of the implantable lead anchor of  claim 1 ; and 
 rotating the spindle to lock the first electrical stimulation lead in the implantable lead anchor. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first anchor housing comprises two first lead receiving channels, the second anchor housing comprises two second lead receiving channels, and the spindle comprises two third lead receiving channels. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising side loading a portion of a second electrical stimulation lead into another one of the third lead receiving channels of the implantable lead anchor. 
     
     
       17. The method  claim 15 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one locking arm extending from the first or second anchor housing, a corresponding annular recess in the spindle for receiving the at least one locking arm, and at least one radial opening extending from the annular recess and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the at least one locking arm to lock the at least one locking arm; and
 wherein rotating the spindle comprises receiving the portion of the at least one locking arm into the at least one radial opening to lock the at least one locking arm. 
 
     
     
       18. The method  claim 15 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least one locking arm extending from the spindle, a corresponding annular recess in the first or second anchor housing for receiving the at least one locking arm, and at least one radial opening extending from the annular recess and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the at least one locking arm to lock the at least one locking arm; and
 wherein rotating the spindle comprises receiving the portion of the at least one locking arm into the at least one radial opening to lock the at least one locking arm. 
 
     
     
       19. The method  claim 15 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises opposing ratcheting surfaces formed on the spindle and on at least one of the first or second anchor housing; and
 wherein rotating the spindle comprises rotating the opposing ratcheting surfaces relative to each other to a desired locked position. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising suturing the lead anchor to patient tissue.